"You will do what you are commanded to Asgardian." Thanos declared, his deep and terrifying voice resonating around the room.

"When?" Loki grimaced in pain from the whipping he had just received. "When am I to go?"

"Tonight, and do not fail me, or else." He chuckled deeply and maliciously. "What you just received will feel like a mothers loving embrace in comparison."

Loki winced, terrified of what that would entail. "Yes Thanos."

He was dragged back to his cell, wearing only his pants, his back marred in lines of bleeding deep wounds. Dropped to the floor as though he was a sack of dirt, he grunted as his face collided heavily with the filthy surface. Those who brought him in looked at the rooms other inhabitant warning her not to move, before walking out again.

As soon as the door slammed shut and the bolt dragged noisily across, she ran from the corner she was in to the fallen prince. "Loki."

"I'm fine." He groaned as he tried to get up, the open wounds on his back making it incredibly painful to do so. She helped him to sit on the floor cross legged and went to the jug of water they were forced to share for the passed few days and walked back to him, the vessel in her hand before she knelt down behind him.

"Don't. You need that." He hissed painfully.

"I'll live." She stated. She tore the hem of her dress and dipped it in the water. "So, to say you are saying I will need it, he is making you go."

"Tonight."

"Either you better not fail him, or you had best take your life if you do." She suggested solemnly.

"What of you?" He looked at her, gasping in pain as she pressed the damp material into the first of the wounds.

"What of me? He will keep me here, do with me as he sees fit, then when whatever purpose he thinks of is done, I will be slaughtered." Her tone showed no fear; she had accepted her fate long ago.

"How can you simply accept it?"

"Look around us Loki, how can I have hope of anything else here? And you are the only reason it has not been worse for me so far, with you gone, you know the guards will do as they have threatened for so long. I have seen it in their eyes. You will not be gone with five minutes and I will be passed around like bread at a banquet."

"I wish I could protect you." He felt guilty knowing his chance at freedom would cost her so greatly.

"You have. Your body is littered in scars from protecting me, and I will never forget that." She smiled sadly. "Promise me that no matter what, you will not let him capture you again, save yourself, by any means."

"The Midgardians are not a threat, they are primitive, they will not be a challenge." He scoffed.

"But what happens when you win? Will he expect you to return?"

"No, that is me earning my freedom."

"Good, use it well Loki."

"I do not think I can." She ceased cleaning the wound to look at him. "He wants the Tesseract."

"Is that not one of the Infinity Stones?" He nodded. "Well then, flee as far as you can, and do not look back."

"But you…"

"Will be long dead." She completed for him. There was silence after that. She finished cleaning the wounds, allowing them to heal quickly as a result. "There, you'll be healed before you leave."

"I…"

"Loki don't." She smiled sadly. "Could you do one thing for me though?" He nodded. "Could you show me Asgard one last time?" There were tears in her eyes as he let her lean against his arm, not letting her know that it hurt, as he used his seidr to show her their home realm. "I miss it so much." She sighed sadly.

He leant his head against hers. "I will come back for you."

"Don't. I won't be alive, and if I am, what is left of me will not be able to be worth saving, and you will be forced to endure more. Promise me, promise that you won't." She looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. "Please."

The sound of footfalls approaching caused both of them to stare at the door. "I can't promise that, you saved me." He stared sadly. "I need to save you."

"I will not be here to save, accept that Loki."

"I cannot."

"Why not? I am nothing worth returning for."

"You are faithful and kind, thinking of you will bring victory, your name alone states such." He caressed her cheek. "If I give him the Tesseract, he will surely release you upon my request, in truth, you are inconsequential to him."

"Sentimental fool." She smiled sadly, leaning against him one last time. "I am so grateful I got to meet you Loki Friggason."

"I am the son of Laufey, I told you this." He frowned.

"I have heard of King Laufey, he was said to be cold and uncaring; I know more of King Odin, who is blinded by self importance and ignorance, but so too do I know of Queen Frigga, and you are her son."

"She is not my mother by birth."

"Does that really matter?" The door opened. "Thank you Loki, I am grateful that I had your company. It made my time here more bearable."

"It is not fair." Loki's own eyes welled up with tears.

"Life is not always fair my dearest Loki. How is it fair that you had everything you ever knew taken from you as it was? How is it fair that I went for a walk one sunny day and was captured and brought here? That is just how it is some times. We can only continue for as long as we can."

The creatures Thanos was sending to Midgard with Loki came towards him, and took his arm, which he immediately pulled away from them again. "Do not dare touch me you filthy creature." He snapped. He used his seidr to magic on his leather and metal armour, and looked back at her once more before walking out the door, swearing to return for her when he was done.

As he stood across from Thor, surrounded by the miscreants that had thwarted the attack, he thought of her, and the fate that she had been left to. With the muzzle on, he was not able to tell Thor of her, and even if he could speak, The Other would be listening. If Thanos thought for one moment that hurting her would hurt Loki by extension, he would tear the skin from her body, and let every foul creature on that wasteland do as he pleased to her. There was no for him to save her now, and he never even got to tell her that she had saved him in every way, that he had fallen in love with her, his kind and beautiful Sigyn.